Duplicator master feed using decimal code to set copy count

ABSTRACT

An automated offset lithographic duplicating machine permits to automatically mount a master or lithographic plate on a master cylinder, to apply ink repellent etching solution to the mounted master or lithographic plate in a time predetermined by the operator, and to perform a number of sequential duplicating steps of a duplicating cycle. The washing of a blanket cylinder, constituting the final step of the duplicating cycle of a lithographic plate, is performed in a time predetermined by the operator before the cylinder automatically stops. The number of copies to be duplicated for each lithographic plate is indicated by an indicator after marks on the lithographic plate, for indicating the number of copies to be duplicated, are read by a device provided in the machine. When the number of copies indicated by the indicator has been duplicated, washing of the blanket cylinder is automatically initiated.

United States Patent 1191 [11] 3,871,294 Mar. 18, 1975 Kagari et al.

[54] DUPLICATOR MASTER FEED USING 3,547,027 12/1970 Gombault l0l/132.5

DECIMAL CODE TO SET COPY COUNT 3,562,491 2/1971 Branfield- 3,585,9286/1971 Kaneko.... 1 Inventors: Yoshiharu g i i 3,650,204 3/1972 Burger101/132 x Japan FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [731 Asslgnee: filgKaisha Rico", Tokyo 174,210 12/1969 United Kingdom 101/132 [22] Filed:July 10, 1972 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Bagwill Assistant Examiner-R. E.Suter [21] Appl' 270561 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and TuttleRelated U.S. Application Data 63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No,882,648, Dec. 5, ABSTRACT 19691 abandoned' An automated offsetlithographic duplicating machine permits to automatically mount a masteror litho- [301 Apphcatlon pnomvy Data graphic plate on a mastercylinder, to apply ink repe|- Dec. 30, 1968 Japan 43-96546 lent etchingsolution to the mounted master or lithographic plate in a timepredetermined by the operator, [52] U.S. Cl. ll/132.5, 101/142 and toperform a number of sequential duplicating [51] Int. Cl. B411 11/08,B411 1l/14 steps of a duplicating cycle. The washing of a blanket Fieldof Search 3 cylinder, constituting the final step of the duplicating 35,13 2, 91 cycle of a lithographic plate, is performed in a timepredetermined by the operator before the cylinder aul l References Citedtomatically stops. The number of copies to be dupli- UNITED STATESPATENTS cated for each lithographic plate is indicated by an in-2,906,196 9/1959 Ritzerfeld et a1. 101/2 after marks on the lithographicfor indi' 2,950,049 8/1960 Mazer et al 235/6l.ll cating the number ofcopies to be duplicated, are read 3 9 5 019 12 19 0 Hayes et 1 10 32 Xby a device provided in the machine. When the num- 3,l02,470 9/1963Cragg et al. 101/144 ber of copies indicated by the indicator has beendu- 20,3 H1969 Ro g t -m- 2 plicated, washing of the blanket cylinder isautomati- 3,457,ss7 7/1969 Burger 101/144 Cally initiated. 3,470,3579/1969 Ritzerfeld 101/132.5 UX 3,493.301 2/1970 Sable et al. 101/91 x 3Claims, 62 Drawing Figures 5 {)1 122 J 5 D4 i I 1 P I llllllllllllllllllll llllllllll llllllllll OI 23456789 0123456789 O|2 3456789Ol23456789 PATENTEU 3.871.294

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1. An automatic duplicating machine, of the offset lithographic type,using substantially rectangular masters having a leading edge and atrailing edge interconnected by a pair of longitudinal side edges, saidmachine comprising, in combination, a master cylinder having grippingmeans operable to grip the leading edge of a master fed thereto; anautomatic master feed device operable, responsive to actuation of astart control, to initiate feeding of a master to said master cylinder;the masters fed by said automatic master feed device having impressedthereon markings indicating the respective number of duplicates to bemade from each master; the markings impressed on each master including afirst row of timing marks extending longitudinally of one Of said sideedges thereof and impressed on the master in separated decades with eachdecade representing a respective column position of a multi-columndecimal number, and each timing mark in each of said decadesrepresenting a respective decimal digit from 0 to 9; and a second row oflongitudinally spaced data marks extending parallel to and spacedlaterally from said first row and including one respective single saiddata mark impressed on the master adjacent each decade of timing marks;each data mark being aligned laterally with that timing mark, of itsassociated decade, representing the respective decimal digit, in columnposition, of the decimal number represented by all the data marks andwhich decimal number represents the number of duplicates to be made fromthe respective master; a master blanket cylinder engageable with amaster on said master cylinder to have impressed, on its peripheralsurface, an ink image of the master then mounted on said mastercylinder; an impression cylinder adjacent and movable toward saidblanket cylinder to press copy sheets against the peripheral surface ofsaid blanket cylinder to provide duplicates of the master; an etchingsolution applicator operable to apply an ink-repellent etching solutionto the master then mounted on said master cylinder; an inking deviceoperable to apply ink to the master; means operable, responsive tocompletion of the etching solution application, to activate said inkingdevice to initiate application of the ink to the master; means manuallyoperable to preset a preliminary inking time for applying a quantity ofink sufficient to start duplication of the master; a copy sheet feeddevice; means operable, upon termination of the preliminary inking time,to activate said copy sheet feed device to initiate and continue feedingof copy sheets between said blanket and impression cylinders; a read-outdevice operable to scan separately the timing marks and the data markson each master fed to said master cylinder and, responsive tosimultaneous scanning, in each column position, of said data mark andits respective laterally aligned timing mark, providing an output signalrepresenting the decimal digit, in the respective column position of thescanned data mark, whereby to provide decimal output signals indicativeof the respective number of duplicates to be made; memory means and adata register connected to said read-out device to receive said outputsignals and to store and register the indicted number of duplicates;counting means operable to count the number of duplicates produced fromeach master; signal generating means; coincidence circuit meansconnected to said memory means; said data register, said counting meansand said signal generating means, operable, responsive to coincidencebetween the stored numbers of duplicates and the counted number ofduplicates, to activate said signal generating means to issue a commandterminating operation of said copy sheet feed device; master removingmeans activated, responsive to such command, to remove the master fromsaid master cylinder; and a cleaning device operable automatically, uponcompletion of duplication of a master, to clean said blanket cylinder.2. An automatic duplicating machine, as claimed in claim 1, in whichsaid markings further include a start mark impressed on each master andaligned with said second row of data marks and positioned between saidsecond row of data marks and said leading edge of the associated master;said read-out device providing indications of the respective number ofduplicates to be made only responsive to initial scanning of said startmark.
 3. An automatic duplicating machine, as claimed in claim 2, inwhich said read-out device comprises a data mark sensing circuitoperable to sense said data marks; a timing mark reading circuitoperable to read said timing marks; a temperary data register connectedto the outputs of said data mark sensing circuit and said timing markreading circuit; a carrY signal counter connected to the output of saidtiming mark reading circuit; said first mentioned data register beingconnected to said temporary data register and to said carry signalcounter and registering a count only responsive to signals producedsimultaneously by said temporary data register and said carry signalcounter; said coincidence circuit means being connected to saidfirst-mentioned data register and to said counting means.